HK, mainland scientists to set up brain bank

Scientists in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland will establish a pioneering Chinese brain bank to help lab researchers learn more about human brains and diseases, a university spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Scientists in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland will establish a pioneering Chinese brain bank to help lab researchers learn more about human brains and diseases, a university spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Researchers hope to sign up people from Hong Kong and mainland who are willing to donate their gray matter to science after they die and also willing to share personal medical and psychological information that will help in the studies.

The scientists believe that data will make their work more meaningful, said Janet Yeung, a University of Hong Kong spokeswoman.

``It's difficult to analyze the brain specimens without such information,'' she said.

Research on brain samples has led to important findings on afflictions including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, the university said.

The University of Hong Kong and China's Central South University, located in Changsha, Hunan province, plan to sign a memorandum of understanding Friday to establish the bank, Yeung said.

Brains from Hong Kong donors will be kept in Hong Kong while those from mainland donors will be kept in Changsha, she said.

Yeung declined to provide other details ahead of an official announcement on Friday.